2019 Nissan Kicks vs 2020 Toyota Sienna

So, you’re in the market for an affordable, efficient, and versatile vehicle. A small crossover makes perfect sense, right? The 2019 Nissan Kicks might hit the right marks on paper, but in practice, it leaves a lot to be desired.

Crossovers are the hottest-selling cars on the market, and with good reason. They offer added capability and versatility compared to the average economy car. The problem is, some automakers have tried to leverage the appeal of these vehicles without really offering increased practicality or performance. Give a hatchback a slight lift, slap extra plastic around the wheel wells and bumpers, and call it a day.

There are things I like about the Nissan Kicks, and there are things I hate. CarGurus has a recommended trim for the Kicks, but if you’re on the fence, you might be served just as well by a conventional hatchback like the Volkswagen Golf.

Since the second half of the 20th century, each decade has had a hot-topic family car, and, as we’ve noted in a number of reviews this year, the crossover is our current darling vehicle. Before the crossover, there were big, truck-based SUVs. Before that, there were station wagons.

And for the past 35 years, there's always been the minivan.

The Dodge Caravan has been widely considered the Patient Zero of the minivan segment. From there, seemingly everyone joined the party, including Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Volkswagen, Oldsmobile, Ford, and more. Heck, even Mercury had a “Nautica Edition” version of the Villager.

The minivan was king once, the crossover is king now, and some other type of vehicle will likely dominate in the near future. But in all this, the 7- and 8-passenger minivans will always represent the ultimate in versatility. The crossover is an image-forward fad with a dash of usability, but the minivan continues to prove itself as the pinnacle of practicality.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna is neither the newest nor flashiest minivan out there, but when you absolutely need space for people and gear, there’s nothing better. Additionally, the Sienna is the only minivan to offer all-wheel drive (AWD), which is something specifically desired by many car buyers.